Just got laid off. Chances of December FD?

[fax290]

I started work at 4am on Thursday and by 4:30pm I was given the news. It was a long day to say the least. Panic mode set in right away and I became devastated at the thought of giving up Disney so I am trying every which way to still make it happen. The problem is, I have not one but TWO trips booked this year. One in September (FD) with my friend, and one in December (currently with 15% pin) with my family. What makes it worse is I am covering the majority of the costs for BOTH TRIPS. The September trip is already paid off, I just need to get airfare and MNSSHP tickets. But the December trip, currently booked for 6 days at YC, only has a $400 deposit paid. So, by trying to work things out I realize if I could get FD for the December trip (going the 6th through the 12th) and switching to CSR, I could make it work. My bills are fairly low and I have a seperate part time job that will help cover them while I look for a new job, otherwise I would have to cancel both. And if I only kept one trip that wouldn't be fair to the other person/people. Both trips really mean a lot to me for different reasons and I don't want to let anyone down. So... what are my chances?

 

[homeschoolmomof4]

I suspect that you will have difficulty getting Free Dining during that period because of Pop Warner. The last couple of years, Free Dining has been blacked out until the end of Pop Warner. I would consider moving your dates forward by a couple of days so that you arrive on Saturday. I've had free dining the last two years by being there the Saturday Pop Warner ends. However, nothing is set in stone and there are no guarantees that Free Dining will be offered again. I'm just looking at the historical information and am basing it off that information. Have you called and checked to see if there is a PIN code attached to your name? I know some people have gotten Free Dining in December this year from PIN codes.

 

[mommyof3princess27]

I started work at 4am on Thursday and by 4:30pm I was given the news. It was a long day to say the least. Panic mode set in right away and I became devastated at the thought of giving up Disney so I am trying every which way to still make it happen. The problem is, I have not one but TWO trips booked this year. One in September (FD) with my friend, and one in December (currently with 15% pin) with my family. What makes it worse is I am covering the majority of the costs for BOTH TRIPS. The September trip is already paid off, I just need to get airfare and MNSSHP tickets. But the December trip, currently booked for 6 days at YC, only has a $400 deposit paid. So, by trying to work things out I realize if I could get FD for the December trip (going the 6th through the 12th) and switching to CSR, I could make it work. My bills are fairly low and I have a seperate part time job that will help cover them while I look for a new job, otherwise I would have to cancel both. And if I only kept one trip that wouldn't be fair to the other person/people. Both trips really mean a lot to me for different reasons and I don't want to let anyone down. So... what are my chances?

Yea I agree with the PP if you could move your dates up or back, you might have a better chance. I am not sure but I think they do black out Pop Warner week

 

[Masonmj84]

We're planning to go Dec. 8-16 and hoping for FD.

As PP said, both of the last two years, they've blacked out FD during Pop Warner but opened it back up the Saturday Pop Warner ends (which would be Dec. 8 this year).

Part of my reason for hoping for FD is that we're going with my parents and I've agreed to take care of dining expenses for everyone (they'll be paying for their room, park tickets, and airfare). My dad thinks food at Disney is a complete rip-off (in that regard, we like to dine deluxe but he thinks it's even a rip-off to upgrade to DxDP from free dining).

I, on the other hand, think staying moderate, getting free dining, and upgrading to DxDP is a pretty good bang for your vacation buck (especially Dec. 8-16, when you get all the benefits of Christmas + relatively low crowds). So I'm really hoping for free dining, otherwise food is going to cost me a fortune.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Funny, because only on the Dis boards can you hear this. When My DH got laid-off, the first thing that went through my mind was "oh no, my Disney trip". Which we still did pull off of course.
I agree that the dates dont look good for FD, but fingers crossed for you!! Good Luck!!!!!!

 

[fax290]

Wow this is great to hear. Thanks everyone for the info! We were restricted on dates we could travel due to different family members schedules but going down the 8th is still doable. Orginally we were trying to avoid pop warner but we wanted to go mid week to mid week and my mom had to take two weeks vacation to be able to do so and has to be back to work by the 17th. Plus my dads birthday is the 7th so we were looking to celebrate there but going a day later is ok too. I don't think I will have a FD pin since when I booked this trip I had the 15% pin. I guess it is possible but still, a public discount will probably be needed. My fingers are crossed for everyone!

 

[ktate82]

I called today to ask if there was a pin attached to my name. There wasn't, but the CM I spoke to said Disney will have something out during December. I am hoping for a good discount on rooms for AP, but maybe they will have both...they did last year.

 

[deanie]

We will be visiting WDW during Pop Warner week also But we arrive before it starts, Nov 26 to Dec 7. I have never gone at this time. Does anyone know if FD is ever offered the week between Thanksgiving weekend and Pop Warner? I am keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[Disney-Chick]

They never have FD during Warner Week, and they would not have it during a holiday either. Last year we were able to book FD on Dec. 3rd but I know they ended up changing that. From the looks of it they may have FD the last week of Nov. and stopping for Warner Week and maybe it would start again on the 10th of Dec.

 

[vleeth]

We will be visiting WDW during Pop Warner week also But we arrive before it starts, Nov 26 to Dec 7. I have never gone at this time. Does anyone know if FD is ever offered the week between Thanksgiving weekend and Pop Warner? I am keeping my fingers crossed!

If the public offer is the same dates as the pin, you should be okay.
Free dining on the pin starts back up the day after Thanksgiving...the 23rd I believe through the 28th or 29th. So check in on Nov 26th, you should be good.
Now we just wait of the announcement!!!

 

[maryj11]

When we went the second week in December 2010 we had free dining. I cant remember the dates but it was right after Pop Warner left.

 

[hsmamato2]

Ummmm....since I'm a frequent budget board lurker..I'm going to chime in with a reasonable question..... why are you planning on spending big $$$$$ on 2 vacations when you lost your job? Even with free dining it is very expensive,and you have 2 planned. Neither one is paid for yet (no,paid in full means you have nothing left to buy for it to happen) -why don't you cancel,or postpone them?
Ok....all done now. I just had to say it. My advice is not to look for FD offers,it's to cancel your tips while you can still get your $$$ back, you may need it to live......
....Back to your regularly scheduled posters providing advice.....